“Isn’t it nice that we haven’t seen anyone following us today?” said Violet, who was munching a crisp apple.
“Yes,” said Henry, taking a bite of bread and cheese.
Jessie had been digging around in Benny’s backpack, which they’d brought with them, as usual. At last she pulled out a colorful brochure. “Tonight’s the night we’re going to the theater. Grandfather gave me this listing of all the current shows so that we can read about the one we’re going to.”
“Is it Andrew’s show? The Mystery Man?” asked Benny.
“No, Grandfather said that one was sold out,” said Jessie. “But speaking of Andrew, Violet and I heard something very strange last night.” She and Violet told their brothers what they’d overheard.
“That doesn’t sound like Andrew,” said Henry. “Maybe there’s a side of him we don’t know.”
“It was very strange,” said Jessie. “He sounded almost like a different person.”
“Maybe it was a different person!” cried Benny. “Maybe it was the man with the beard! Or the old man!”
Violet and Jessie thought for a moment. “I guess it could have been someone else,” said Jessie after a while. “I just assumed it was Andrew, since it was his room. Maybe he had a friend with him.”
“I don’t know,” said Violet. “But it was scary.”
Jessie didn’t want her sister to be frightened, so she quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, tonight we’re going to see A Tale of Magic.” Jessie read from the brochure, “It says, ‘An exciting story about a group of children who take a magical journey to solve a mystery.’ ”
“That sounds great!” Benny said. “What does it say there about Andrew’s show?”
Jessie looked down the list of plays. “That’s strange,” she said. “I see it listed here, but I don’t see Andrew’s name. Didn’t he say he was the star?”
“Yes,” said Violet.
“It says here that the star is someone named Ambrose Prince,” Jessie said.
“That could be Andrew’s stage name,” suggested Henry. “Or maybe the listing you’re reading is out of date. Maybe Ambrose Prince quit the show and Andrew is the new star.”
“Maybe,” said Jessie. “Or maybe Andrew wasn’t telling us the truth. After what we heard last night, I don’t know what to think. And remember that woman on the tube yesterday, who knew so much about the theater but hadn’t heard of Andrew?”
Violet sighed. “I wonder if Andrew’s up to something that he doesn’t want anyone to know about.”
“You may be right,” said Henry.
“It seems like everyone at our inn is up to something,” said Jessie. “Remember Mrs. Brown said Donna has a ‘secret plan’?”
“What do you think it could be?” asked Benny.
“Who knows,” said Henry “But I guess that explains why she’s always acting so secretive.”
When they’d finished eating, the Aldens strolled about the pathways that crisscrossed the park. Their walk led them into another park called Kensington Gardens, where they saw several statues. Henry liked one of a man riding on a horse, while Violet’s favorite was of Peter Pan. “It says on this plaque that the man who wrote the book Peter Pan lived near here,” she said excitedly. “I love that book!”
A little farther on, they came across a large pond, where they watched people sailing model boats and fed their leftover crusts of bread to a family of ducks. There was also a playground, where they stayed until it was time to go meet Charles for tea.
CHAPTER 8
Afternoon Tea
The night before, Grandfather had helped the children locate Chiswick Lane on a map. It was a small street close to Kensington Gardens. It took only about ten minutes to walk there from the playground.
“There’s the tea shop,” said Violet, pointing to a storefront with a big glass window and lovely lace curtains. When the children entered they found a room with several small tables and a long buffet at the back. Charles was already there, sitting at a table near the window.
“Hello!” the children called out as they went to sit down with him.
“Good to see you!” Charles said with a big smile. There was a small pot of tea on the table, and as he poured himself a cup, his hand shook and tea spilled onto the table. “Oh, dear, look what a mess I’m making,” Charles said, reaching for his napkin to wipe up the spill. But in cleaning it up, his hand knocked the teacup and more tea spilled out.
“Let me help you,” Violet said. She wondered why Charles seemed so nervous.
Just then a waitress came to the table. “I’ll take care of that, Mr. Finchley,” she said, clearing away the spilled teacup and wiping the table. “There. Would you children like some tea as well, or would you prefer hot cocoa?”
“Hot cocoa!” cried Benny. The others nodded eagerly.
“Four cups of cocoa, Doris,” Charles told the waitress.
“Help yourself to the buffet whenever you’re ready” she told them and walked away.
“This is my favorite tea shop,” said Charles. “I come here quite often to enjoy the wonderful buffet. Why don’t you all go up and pick out whatever you’d like.” He motioned to the long table in the back.
“Okay,” said Benny, springing up from the table. He could see an assortment of cakes from where they were sitting. The others got up, also.
“Aren’t you coming?” Jessie asked when she noticed that Charles was still seated.
“No, I’ll just have tea right now,” he said.
“If you’re not going up, I’ll stay here, too, and—” Jessie began.
“No, no, no — please — go ahead,” Charles said quickly. He seemed upset but then he collected himself. “Really, I’m quite comfortable by myself.”
“All right,” said Jessie, following the others. She wondered what was bothering Charles.
The buffet was indeed wonderful, as Charles had said. At one end there were tiny sandwiches filled with cucumber, cheese, or eggsalad. They were made on very thin bread and cut into pretty shapes like hearts and diamonds.
Beside the tea sandwiches was a basket of scones, surrounded by several dishes of jam. Next came the pastries and cakes, which were layered with chocolate, whipped cream, and fruit fillings.
“I want one of everything!” said Benny
“You may have that if you like,” said Doris as she walked by, carrying a tray of hot cocoa to their table.
“Why don’t you start with just a few things,” said Jessie. “You can always come back for more.”
“Look at that cake,” said Benny, pointing to a cake at the end of the buffet. It was elaborately decorated with swirls of chocolate icing and large red strawberries. He’d never seen a cake so fancy — or so delicious-looking. “Do you think Mrs. McGregor could make one like that for my next birthday?”
“I’m sure she could. She’s such a good cook. Just tell her about it when we get home,” said Violet.
“I have a good idea,” said Benny. “I’ll take a picture of it!” He headed back to the table to get the camera out of his backpack. When he got there, Charles looked surprised to see him.
“Oh, hello — aren’t you having anything for tea?” Charles asked.
“I want to take a picture of one of those cakes first,” Benny said. He reached under the chair he’d been sitting in. “That’s funny.” He looked under the chair. “I thought I left my backpack right here.”
“Oh, here it is,” said Charles, pulling the backpack up from under the table. “Somehow it got pushed over to my side of the table.”
“Thanks,” said Benny. He took out his camera and went back to the buffet.
A moment later, the Aldens returned to the table, their plates piled with goodies.
“We brought some extra sandwiches and scones for you,” said Jessie.